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DESTRUCTIVE FIRE AT RAYWOOD.
(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)
A very destructive fire broke out yesterday
morning at Raywood at about half past one
o'clock, which resulted in the loss of Mr. John
Teague's butcher's shop and residence; in Ingle
wood-street, and also of much frontage to the
adjoining property owned by Mr. Webb. The
discovery was made that the house was on fire
by Mr. Teague, who was awakened by a crack
ling noise in the next room, wherein Mrs.
Teague was sleeping. He immediately broke
in the door just in time to drag Mrs. Teague
out, but not before she was burnt severely. The
progress of the fames was so rapid that Mr.
Teague had not time to got possession of any
clothing, his whole efforts being directed to save
his wife aud family. A large number of the
neighbors assembled directly the whistle of the
Nil Compauy was blown, and every effort
possible was made to stop the progress of the
flames. Very fortunately the wind which was
blowing fresh from the south east at the out
break, suddenly lulled, otherwise, nothing could
have saved the adjacent premises, together with
Nunn'a store. A line of men with buckets was
formed across the street to the reservoir, and a
good quantity of water was thus obtained,
which was of great service. Mr. Prenton, the
mining manager. of the Nil Company then
came and at one diverted the salt water
from the mine to the scene of the fire.
The further progress of the flames was then
staged by ths efforts of willing hands, who
mounted the roofs of the adjacent buildings,
and extinguished that portion which had taken
fire. The greatest assistance was rendered by all
parties present, particularly by Mr. D. C. Sterry,
of Sandhurst, who happened to be in Raywood.
By judiciously directing the men's movements,
his presence was of great service. Constables
Douglass and Rundell, together with Mr.
Spooner, and many others are also entitled to
great credit for their valuable assistance. I am
sorry to add that the loss to Mr. Teague is a
very heavy one, the whole of his furniture and
clothing, together with a considerable sum of
money, being destroyed. Mrs. Teague has
been removed to Gunu'a Hotel. Her injuries
are very serious. She was much burned about
the feet and head. I understand the property
was not insured.
FURTHER PARTICULARS.
The injuries sustained by Mrs. Teague are of
a very extensive and serious character, there
being burns all over her body, head, and limbs.
She was attended immediately after her rescue
by Dr. Heirons, who did what he could to
alleviate her sufferings. A messenger was also
sent into Sandhurst for Dr. Hugh Boyd, and as
soon as he received the intelligence he at once
drove to Raywood, where he saw Mrs. Teague
in a room next to Gun's Hotel. Besides suffer
ing great pain, she was severely affected by the
shock to the system, and was in a semi-comatose
state. He did all that was possible for her relief,
and then recommended her removal to the
Bendigo Hospital as a private patient. His
reason for doing so was that she would be in a
position there to receive better attention
than could be obtained at Raywood. He
further left instructions that she should not
be removed during the day, but that the jour
ney should be undertaken when the moou rose
at night. He then returned to Sandhurst, when
he called at the Bendigo Hospital, and informed
the resident-surgeon of the fact, so that the
hospital would be ready to receivc the patient,
who was expected to arrive between 3 and 4
o'clock this morning. Her state is considered
precarious. Mr. Teague received several nasty
burns on his hands and feet, sustained whilst
rescuing his wife. The cause of the outbreak is
unknown, though it is believed that it was
perhaps connected with the fact that Mrs.
Teague had a candle burning late in her bed
room. When Mr. Teague was awakened by the
crackling and roaring of the fire, the house was
nearly all ablaze, aud he himself ran a very nar
row escape in his endeavors to save her and the
family. The shop was of brick, and nothing but
the walls now remain. The residence was a
neat and roomy weatherboard cottage, but now
only a heap of ashes remain.
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